System for detecting, containing and removing hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment

ABSTRACT

A system for the detection, containment and removal of hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment.

This application is a non-provisional application which claims benefitunder 35 USC §119(e) of and priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 61/780,425 filed 13 Mar., 2013, entitled “A SYSTEM FORDETECTING, CONTAINING AND REMOVING HYDROCARBON LEAKS IN A SUBSEAENVIRONMENT,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for the detection, containment andremoval of hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In offshore oil exploration, it is often necessary to protect subseaequipment from damage from anchors, fishing nets, ice features or othermarine hazards. Equipment protruding from the sea floor in high trafficareas, such as shipping lanes or areas with submarine activity, has aninherent danger of damage to either vessels or the environment due topotential oil spills from damaged equipment.

To date, subsea drilling equipment such as blow-out preventers and wellcompletion equipment, such as “Christmas trees,” have been located atthe sea floor level, leaving them exposed and susceptible to damage. Theproblem is particularly acute in Arctic waters where ice packs andicebergs scour the ocean floor with great force. Consequently,excavations on the ocean floor, called glory holes, have been used toenable blow-out preventers, wellheads and associated well completionequipment to be relocated below ice scour regions or to protect thewellhead from damages from anchors, fishing equipment or shippinghazards. However, glory holes can be expensive to dredge where difficultsoil conditions are encountered or the water is deep. Furthermore, theprotection provided against scouring by ice is imperfect, as the icepushes a pile of rubble ahead of it as it scours the ocean floor, andlittle protection against anchors, fishing nets and the like isprovided.

Caissons have also been utilized in the art in an effort to protectsubsea equipment from marine hazards. Caissons are generally made fromsteel or concrete installed below the scour regions in subseaenvironments.

Unfortunately, even with appropriate protection of subsea equipmentleakage of hydrocarbons is still a possibility.

Therefore, a need exists for containment, detection and removal ofhydrocarbon leaks by creating a closed environment where leaks can bedetected, contained, and mitigated to prevent hydrocarbons from reachingthe environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a system penetrating a sea bed of an Arctic subseaenvironment, wherein the system detects, contains and removeshydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein hydrocarbon leaks includeoil and gas, includes: (a) a hollow caisson, wherein the caissonincludes walls and a floor, wherein the caisson is fabricated from anymaterial capable of withstanding a harsh subsea environment, wherein thecaisson is fabricated from steel, concrete or any combination thereof;(b) subsea equipment disposed within the caisson, wherein components ofthe subsea equipment penetrate the caisson; (c) a removable lid forsealing the caisson, wherein the lid creates a fluid tight seal, whereinthe lid includes at least one vent, wherein the lid includes a removalport for accessing hydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the lidis fabricated from any material capable of withstanding a harsh subseaenvironment, wherein the lid is fabricated from steel, concrete or anycombination thereof; (d) a primary detection means are connected to aninner surface of the lid, wherein the primary detection means detectsthe presence of hydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the primarydetection means is a semiconductor or a capacitor; (e) a secondarydetection means are connected to components of the subsea equipment,wherein the secondary detection means detects the presence ofhydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the secondary detectionmeans is either a semiconductor or a capacitor; and (f) suction meanspenetrating the lid through removal port, wherein the suction meansremoves hydrocarbon leaks from the system, wherein the suction means isa flexible suction hose.

In another embodiment, a system for detecting, containing and removinghydrocarbon leaks within the system, includes: (a) a hollow caissonpenetrating a sea bed of a subsea environment; (b) subsea equipmentdisposed within the caisson, wherein components of the subsea equipmentpenetrate the caisson; (c) a removable lid for sealing the caisson,wherein the lid creates a fluid tight seal, wherein the lid includes aremoval port for accessing hydrocarbon leaks within the system; (d) aprimary detection means are connected to an inner surface of the lid,wherein the detection means detects the presence of hydrocarbon leakswithin the system; and (e) suction means penetrating the caisson forremoval of leaked hydrocarbons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken across line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentinvention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation ofthe invention, not as a limitation of the invention. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made in the present invention without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or describedas part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield astill further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the presentinvention cover such modifications and variations that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The system in accordance with the present disclosure serves to protectany wellhead equipment housed within the structure from damages; toprevent the infill of the structure with sediment being moved by oceancurrents or ice; to contain and detect hydrocarbons that have beenreleased into the system; and to remove hydrocarbon leaks within thesystem. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a subsea caisson 10penetrating the sea bed 8 of a subsea environment 6. FIG. 1 depicts acylindrical caisson 10, however, the structure can be any shape suitablefor the intended purpose. The caisson can be fabricated from anymaterial capable of withstanding harsh marine environments. Harsh marineenvironments, for example, can include ice packs, iceberg scour andanchors. Such material capable of maintaining structural integrity inharsh subsea environments can include steel, concrete or combinationsthereof.

The caisson may include a floor. The caisson can be fabricated from anymaterial capable of withstanding harsh marine environments. The floorcan be fabricated from steel, concrete or combinations thereof.

The caisson 10 contains subsea equipment 12. Such subsea equipment caninclude, but is not limited to blow-out preventers and well completionequipment. The subsea equipment can penetrate the caisson.

A removable lid 14 forms a roof to seal the caisson 10. When attached tothe caisson 10, the removable lid 14 creates a fluid tight seal toprevent the entrance of water into the system and to contain anyhydrocarbon leaks within the system. The lid can be fabricated from anymaterial capable of withstanding harsh marine environments. Ice packs,iceberg scour, anchors or other marine hazards are examples of harshmarine environments. Such material capable of maintaining structuralintegrity in harsh subsea environments can include concrete, steel orcombinations thereof.

The lid 14 includes a removal port 22 capable of providing access to thehydrocarbon leaks contained within the system. When hydrocarbon leaksare detected within system, a plug 18 is removed from the removal port22 in the lid 14. The hydrocarbon leak can then be discharged from thesystem through removal port 22 and into suction means 20. The suctionmeans 20 allow flow from the system through a flexible riser 24 to thesurface. The suction means can be a flexible hose. The suction means canbe attached to the lid via a flanged connection.

The lid may include at least one vent 26 to vent. The lid may alsoinclude lifting eyes 28 for removal of the lid 14 from the caisson 10.

Primary detection means 30 may be located on the interior surface of lid14. The primary detection means are capable of detecting the presence ofhydrocarbon leaks within the system. The primary detection means caninclude, but are not limited to semiconductors or capacitors. Ahydrocarbon sniffer is an example of a primary detection means.

Secondary detection means 32 can be included on the subsea equipment.The secondary detection means are capable of detecting the presence ofhydrocarbon leaks within the system. The secondary detection means caninclude, but are not limited to semiconductors or capacitors. Ahydrocarbon sniffer is an example of a secondary detection means.

In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference isnot an admission that it is prior art to the present invention,especially any reference that may have a publication date after thepriority date of this application. At the same time, each and everyclaim below is hereby incorporated into this detailed description orspecification as an additional embodiment of the present invention.

Although the systems and processes described herein have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions,and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims. Those skilled inthe art may be able to study the preferred embodiments and identifyother ways to practice the invention that are not exactly as describedherein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations andequivalents of the invention are within the scope of the claims whilethe description, abstract and drawings are not to be used to limit thescope of the invention. The invention is specifically intended to be asbroad as the claims below and their equivalents.

1. A system penetrating a sea bed of an Arctic subsea environment,wherein the system detects, contains and removes hydrocarbon leakswithin the system, wherein hydrocarbon leaks include oil and gas,comprising: a. a hollow caisson, wherein the caisson includes walls anda floor, wherein the caisson is fabricated from any material capable ofwithstanding a harsh subsea environment, wherein the caisson isfabricated from steel, concrete or any combination thereof; b. subseaequipment disposed within the caisson, wherein components of the subseaequipment penetrate the caisson; c. a removable lid for sealing thecaisson, wherein the lid creates a fluid tight seal, wherein the lidincludes at least one vent, wherein the lid includes a removal port foraccessing hydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the lid isfabricated from any material capable of withstanding a harsh subseaenvironment, wherein the lid is fabricated from steel, concrete or anycombination thereof; d. a primary detection means are connected to aninner surface of the lid, wherein the primary detection means detectsthe presence of hydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the primarydetection means is a semiconductor or a capacitor; e. a secondarydetection means are connected to components of the subsea equipment,wherein the secondary detection means detects the presence ofhydrocarbon leaks within the system, wherein the secondary detectionmeans is either a semiconductor or a capacitor; and f. suction meanspenetrating the lid through removal port, wherein the suction meansremoves hydrocarbon leaks from the system, wherein the suction means isa flexible suction hose.
 2. A system for detecting, containing andremoving hydrocarbon leaks within the system, comprising: a. a hollowcaisson penetrating a sea bed of a subsea environment; b. subseaequipment disposed within the caisson, wherein components of the subseaequipment penetrate the caisson; c. a removable lid for sealing thecaisson, wherein the lid creates a fluid tight seal, wherein the lidincludes a removal port for accessing hydrocarbon leaks within thesystem; d. a primary detection means are connected to an inner surfaceof the lid, wherein the detection means detects the presence ofhydrocarbon leaks within the system; and e. suction means penetratingthe caisson for removal of leaked hydrocarbons.
 3. The system accordingto claim 2, wherein the subsea environment is an Arctic environment. 4.The system according to claim 2, wherein hydrocarbon leaks include oiland gas.
 5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the caissonincludes a floor.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the flooris fabricated from any material capable of withstanding a harsh subseaenvironment.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the floor isfabricated from steel, concrete or any combination thereof.
 8. Thesystem according to claim 2, wherein the caisson is fabricated from anymaterial capable of withstanding a harsh subsea environment.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 8, wherein the caisson is fabricated fromsteel, concrete or any combination thereof.
 10. The system according toclaim 2, wherein the lid includes at least one vent.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the lid is fabricated from any materialcapable of withstanding a harsh subsea environment.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the lid is fabricated from steel,concrete or any combination thereof.
 13. The system according to claim2, wherein the primary detection means is a semiconductor or acapacitor.
 14. The system according to claim 2, wherein the suctionmeans is a flexible suction hose.
 15. The system according to claim 2,wherein a secondary detection means are connected to components of thesubsea equipment detects the presence of hydrocarbon leaks within thesystem.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the secondarydetection means is either a semiconductor or a capacitor.